Tiltable table top



June 18, 1935. w. .1. MERRIGAN 2,005,100

TI LTABLE TABLE TOP Filed Aug. 2'7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [17 venfor WJM err/jam June 18, $350 w. J. MERRIGAN TILTABLE TABLE To? Filed Aug. 27,1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 AK T0 inventor I J Wdf Merr 'gqn b fl/zoma'uaPatented June 1 8, 1935 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE a 10"Claims; (01. 311-38) This invention relates primarily to tilting table topconstructions such as those employed uponcircular saws and analogousmachine's;-

,;An object of this inventioniis to provide .an

improved tilting table top construction, enabling the table-top to beeasily and quickly adjusted into any tilted position andfrictionallylocked or held in suchpositionr More specifically, an objectof the invention is to provide an improved 1 trunnion construction f or,tiltably'. supporting :the table top wherein, on'the operation ofasingle tightening lever, both. trunnions of the table topwill'besubjected to radial pressure forcing them against theirrespective bearings to lock or frictionally hold the table topinadjusted position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction fortilta-bly and adjustably sup-= porting a tabletop on its support, whichcan be easily, quickly and cheaply; manufactured and assemble tion. VI AAnother object of theinvention isto provide an; improved constructionforcircular saws;

the like, which employ rotating shafts or,spin-i dles-on which the sawor equivalentcutting. means i's mounted, which isso designedas to enablethe bearings therefor-to be easily-mounted on the base-of themachine IAnother object of the invention is to provide atable-top over whichthere is ;an adjustable fence havinglaterally extending arms at itsforward end which. bear upon and are tightened againstthe forward edgeof the table, and to provide ears onthe ends of the f rWard edge of thetablev which effectively; widen the; table, enabling the fence. to beadjusted over the complete width of the table. 1;

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will bemadernanifest.in the following detailed description and specifically pointed outinthe' appended claims,. reference is had to the accompanyin drawingsand illustrative embodi- I ment offthe invention, vwherein: I I 1 l isaview-inside elevation of a circular saw oi'iwhich the invention has beenembodied.

' 2 is-a vievv'v in front elevation of the -same.

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the same.- I

' Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verticalcentralsection through the circularsaw. u I II 5 is a sectional vi 'w taken substantially upon the line 55upon Fig.4., 1 I I ,Fig 6 isa vertical'section taken substantially uponthe line66 upon Fig. 4.-

I Referring to the accompanying" drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate d and which will be of durable construe,

" a table top H, which is mounted for tilting adjustment. On theunderside of the table top H there are trunnions l2 and 13 which may becast 5 integral with the table. topjas shown, or se'parately attachedthereto." 1 These trunnionspresent semi-circular peripheries which reston bearingsgenerally designated as M and I5, respectively, formed at theends of "base I0. In'accordance with conventional practice, the bearingsfor the trunnions have their center portion relievedas indicated at It.The outer sides of the trunnionsar'e recessed as indicated at l! and I8and present semi-circular beveled 1 surfaces "I 9 and 20.- O'nefiend ofthe base I!) is-provided with a sta-' tionaryclamping lug or bracket 2l'which extend'sinwardly 'soxas toflb'e engage'able by the beveledsurface [9. .At, the opposite end of the base l0 astud or bolt 22extendsout of thebase on which is mounted a movable lug or clamp 23.'This movable lug or clamp-carries a base 24 disposed betweenztwovertical ribs 25 on the base so as to hold the movable lug or clampingmember against rotation on stud or bolt 22. Movable lug 23 is engageablewith the beveled surface 20 on trunnion l3. 7 The. outer surface of lug"23 is cammed'as indicated'atZB and is engageable by a' camrned surface26 on lever 21 which is mounted for rotation on the outer end of bolt22; Wherethe invention is' used on a circular saw, or the" like, theslot 28 formed in the table top is arranged in alignment with thecenters of the trunnions Il and IS. TO permit adjustment,- lever 21 isrotated so as to loosen lug 23 and the. table top bodily tilted, thetrunnions sliding on their respective bearings; When it isin 'adjus'tedposition it may be frictionally held or locked in such position byreversely rotatinglever '21 which forces lug 23 toward its trunnion l8.This causes a slight shift in a longitudinal direction 'of the tabletopand its trunnions, forcing trunnion 11 against lug 2| and by theengagement with the beveled surface 19, trunnion-ill will be pressed ina radial direction down against bearing I4. At the same time, thetightening of lug 23 against beveled surface 20 imposes a radialpressure on trunnion l8 down against its bearing Hi;- In this Way,movement of the single lever '21 at the front of the machinecauses bothtrunnions to be forced againsttheir respective bearings and, the table.,01 to beheld in adjusted position.

Screw 29 which is shown as adjustably mount,- ed on anear3ll atthetop ofthe base provides astop engageable by the underside of the table 55.

, edge beyond the sides of the table top. Pref-- top limiting itstilting movement in one direction to horizontal. The circular sawindicated at 3| is mounted on a transversely extending spindle 32 whichis rotatable in a bearing 33. To

facilitate manufacture, assembly and the instalits bolts 36 may bemerely dropped in the notches.

34 and 35 and on tightening the bolts 36, the

bearing and shaft or spindle 32 will be. mounted in place. The pulley bywhich the spindle is driven is indicated at 31.

Other constructions illustrated on the present saw consist of an arm 38mounted on the base which extends up over thetabletop. Pivotedtheretothere is a link 39 to which is pi voted a saw guard 40. Groove 4| whichis formed in the table' top surfacereceives slidably 'a mitre cage 42. Afence43 is;provided at its'forward' end with laterally extending arms44. A rod 45 extends'through the fence and has a downwardly bent rearend '46 engageable with the back edge of the table top. This rod has athumb nut threaded thereon, which,.on being tightened, will .crowd thefence rearwardly and force arms 44 intoengagement with the forward edgeof the table top, thus positioning the body of the fence43 parallel. tothe :circular saw 3|.

At the forward corners of the table top there arelaterally extendingears 48 which project laterally beyond the sides of the table top andform extensions or continuations of the forward erably, the top surfacesof these ears aredisposed below the working. surface .of the table topso as to avoid machining them.

{The presence of these' ears enables the body of the fence to be movedto. the extreme side edges of .the table top, .thus enabling the use of.the entire table top surface and the catching of material a distancefrom the saw equal tothe distance between the saw and the extreme edgeof. the tabletop.

From the above described constructions it will be appreciated that ,anovel,usimple and advantageous mounting is provided for tiltable tabletops enabling the table top to be easily andquickly adjusted into anytilted position and thereafter-firmiyheld in. such position by imposinga greater pressure on the trunnions against their respective bearings.This radial pressure is imposed on both trunnions by the operation of asingle tighteninglever at the front of the machine. Various changes maybe made in the details of construction without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention as deflnedby the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. A tilting table top construction comprising, a

support, a table top movable for inclination thereon, substantiallysemi-circular trunnions carried by the table top, bearings for thetrunnions on the support, said trunnions presenting beveled surfaces ontheir sides, stationary-means on the support engageable with the beveledsurface on one trunnion, and movable means engageable with the beveledsurface on the other trunnion for'tightening the table top and trunnionstoward the stationary means and thus causing the trunnions to betightened against their bearings to hold the table top in adjustedposition.

2. A tilting table top construction comprising,

. table top,

a support, a table top movablefor' inclination thereon, substantiallysemi-circular trunnions carried by the table top, bearings for thetrunnions on the support, said trunnions presenting beveled surfaces ontheir outer sides, a stationary lug onthe support engageable with thebeveled surface on one trunnion, and a movable lug onthe supportengageable with the beveled surface on the other trunnion, and'means fortightening the movable lug toward its trunnion and .the stationary lugso as to tighten the trunnions against their bearings. I

3. Atilting table top construction comprising a support, a. table topmovable for inclination thereon, arcuate trunnions rigidly carried bythe table top, bearings for the trunnions on the support, stationaryineans adjacent one bearing engageable by the side of its trunnion, andmovable means adjacent the other bearing engageable with the side of itstrunnion to bodily shift the tabletop and trunnionsto cause thestationary'means to be engagedand the table top to be" held in adjustedposition.

4. A tilting table top constructioncomprising a support, a'table topmovable for inclination thereon, arcuate trunnions rigidly carried bythetable top, bearings for the trunnions 'on the support, stationary meansadjacent one bearing en'- gageable by the side of its trunnion, andmovable means adjacent the other bearing engageable with the oppositeside of its trunnion to bodily shift the table top and; trunnions tocause the stationary means tobe engaged and the table top to be held inadjusted position.

5. A tilting table-top construction comprising a support, a table topmovable for inclination thereon, arcuate trunnions'rigidly carried bythe table top, bearings forthe trunnions on thesupport, there being abeveled" surface on the side" of at least one trunnion, stationarymeansadja? cent one bearing engageable by the beveled surface, movablemeansadjacent the other bearing engageable with its trunnion to bodilyshift'the table top and trunnionsto' cause the stationary means to beengaged and the table top to be held' in adjusted position.

- 6. Atilting table top construction comprising a support, a table topmovable for inclination thereon, arcuate trunnions rigidly carried bythe table top; bearings for the trunnions on the support, there'being abeveled surface on the side of at least one trunnion, stationary meansadjacent one bearing engageable by the, beveled' 'surface, movable meansadjacent the other bearing engageable with the opposite 'side ofitstrunnion to "bodily shift the table top and trunnions to cause thestationary meansto be engaged and the table top to be held in adjustedposition.

7. A tilting table top construction comprising a support, a table topmovablefor inclination,

thereon, arcuate trunnions rigidly carried by", the bearings for thetrunnions on the sup? port there being a beveled surface onJth'e side ofatleast one trunnion, stationary means adjacent one bearing engageableby the *side of. its trunnion, movable means adjacent the other bearingengageable with thebeveled surface, and means for tightening the movablemeans tobodily shift. the table top and-trunnions to causethe stationarymeans 'to be engaged and. the table top to be held in adjusted position.

8. A tilting table top construction comprising a support, a table topmovable forinclination thereon,,arcuate trunnions rigidly carried by thetable top, bearings for the trunnions on the sup port, there being abeveled surface on the side of at least one trunnion, stationary meansadjacent one bearing engageable by the side of its trunnion, movablemeans adjacent the other bearing engageable with the beveled surface onthe opposite side of the trunnion, and means for tightening the movablemeans to bodily shift the table top and trunnions to cause thestationary means to be engaged and the table top to be held in adjustedposition.

9. A tilting table top construction comprising a support, a table topmovable for inclination thereon, arcuate trunnions rigidly carried bythe table top, bearings for the trunnions on the support, there being abeveled surface on the sides of the trunnions, stationary means adjacentone bearing engageable with the beveled surface of its trunnion, movablemeans adjacent the other bearing engageable with the beveled surface onthe opposite side of its trunnion, said movable means being operable tobodily shift the table top and trunnions to cause the stationary meansto be engaged and the table top to be held in adjusted position.

10. A tilting table top construction comprising a support, a table topmovable for inclination thereon, arcuate trunnions rigidly carried bythe table top, bearings for the trunnions on the support, therebeing abeveled surface on the sides of the trunnions, stationary means adjacentone bearing engageable with the beveled surface of its trunnion, movablemeans adjacent the other bearing engageable with the beveled surface onthe opposite side of its trunnion, said movable means being operable tobodily shift the table top and trunnions to cause the stationary meansto be engaged and the table top to be held in adjusted position, thebeveled surface being so arranged that when the stationary means isengaged and the movable means is caused to engage its beveled surfacethe trunnions will be tightened thereby against their respectivebearings.

WILLIAM J. NIERRIGAN.

